Ron Worman: Father Bud and Bishop Paprocki

Effingham Daily News
May 06, 2015

http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/opinion/columns/ron-worman-father-bud-and-bishop-paprocki/article_46f61170-cfc6-5181-ae76-f848bf26650e.html

People have repeatedly asked me where I come up with the ideas for my column. I reply that I have no shortage of topics, thoughts, things to write about; that's how my mind is wired. The problem is focusing on one particular thing; one specific topic.

I also have no shortage of suggestions for what I should write about. In the past year, numerous people have called me and stopped me to suggest a topic for a future column. “Hey,” they say, “why don't you write about (fill in the blank)?"

Over the past year, and especially in the past few days, people have suggested I write about the events centering on the Catholic parishes in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville. They want me to weigh in on the situation involving the Rev. Robert “Bud" DeGrand.

On Saturday, Father Bud was permanently removed from his pastoral duties at those four parishes. The announcement was made by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. I won't go into all the details of why, and what brought it about; that has been well documented already. (See "Bishop permanently removes area priest as pastor," EDN, May 4.)

It really is not my place to comment on the situation. I am not a parishioner at any one of those churches. I don't attend any Catholic church. And, though I was baptized Catholic, I am not a practicing Catholic. I have my reasons.

It's ironic really. In my freshman year of high school I attended a prep seminary. Yep, at one point in my life I actually entertained the idea of becoming a priest. But things happen; with life experiences a person starts to see things differently.

There are certain things you are never, ever supposed to talk about. Keep it to yourself. And since you have no one to confide in, you choose unhealthy ways of dealing with those things. And that's exactly what I did. It wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't pleasant.

Thankfully, I was able to turn things around. I made it to a point where I could love and accept myself. And when I did, I decided I was no longer going to be party to an institution that for so many years told me that I was “intrinsically evil" and “morally disordered.”

As stated previously, I have my reasons for no longer being a practicing Catholic. Why others choose to stay, or why others choose to leave, is their choice. Each person's faith journey is different. I know mine is different from most, but it is mine.

And so I can't really say too much about the situation surrounding Father Bud. Sure, I have my opinions. I know what I have heard. I know what I have read. And I know that I have a bias against the hierarchy of the Catholic church.

I would like to believe that change is afoot, however, since Francis became Pope. Whether it's enough to ever get me back in the fold is another story. What I read about him, I generally like. I like his simplicity. I like his call for clergy to be simple; to be shepherds; to be humble.

In my opinion, Father Bud is more of what Pope Francis is looking for in a parish priest than Bishop Paprocki will ever be. Father Bud is the humble servant/shepherd. I think Bishop Paprocki is a megalomaniac. If you doubt me, find a copy of the Catholic Times (the diocesan newspaper).

I told you I had a bias against the Catholic hierarchy. I especially have one against Bishop Paprocki. The stunt he pulled on the day same-sex marriage became legal in Illinois was pure grandstanding. He performed an exorcism at the Cathedral in Springfield. It didn't take apparently. I'm still here!

I understand there is a lot of anger among the parishioners served by Father Bud. They want their pastor back. They want their servant back. They want their shepherd back. If I was a parishioner at any one of his parishes I would be livid, too.

A very good friend of mine — a non-canonical nun in Iowa — has often said to me, “You have to choose what hills you're willing to die on.” Only the parishioners at the churches in Sigel, Neoga, Green Creek and Lillyville know for sure how much fight they have in them. I hope it's to the death.

I guess I just weighed in on things. Oops!